Rugged-looking passagemakers built of steel or aluminum have always captured my imagination with their "go-anywhere," workboat style. They're handsome, but not always beautiful. The all-aluminum Kanter 56, designed by Canadian naval architect Greg Marshall and built by Ontario's highly respected Kanter Yachts, however, achieves a striking balance of robust toughness and elegant styling.
First and foremost, her experienced owner wanted his new yacht to meet the highest standards for safety at sea. He knew what it was like to get caught offshore in severe conditions with the wrong boat. "I was running my production 52-footer in very large, following seas, and she broached," he said. "Maybe it was my fault, but she went over on her side and I didn't think she was coming back. But she finally did. When I got home, I put her up for sale and began my search for a design with much greater stability."
